Valve mechanism



Oct. 10, 1933. AM 1,930,027

VALVE MECHANISM 7 Filed Sept. 28, 1929 f @v f -NV EN? U H- g ATT E3 HNEYE Patented Oct. 10, 1933 VALVE MECHANISM Hiram T. Abraham, Lincoln, Ill., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, of two-thirds to James Fred Robbins and one-third Robert W. Sheets, both of Lincoln, Ill.

Application September 28, 1929 Serial No. 395,890

2 Claims. (01. 137-401) This invention relates to improvements in valve mechanism.

One of the objects of the invention is in the provision of valve mechanism adapted to be used in connection with the control of the water supply to a hot water heater.

Another object is in the provision of a valve mechanism operating automatically to control the flow of city water, the same being adapted to be used in connection with a hot water heater so arrangedas to prevent any deposit of lime or extraneous matter on the valve itself.

Still another object lies in the provision of valve mechanism adapted to be operated by a ball float, the valve itself being arranged exteriorly of a steam chamber and controlling the supply of water thereto automatically in such manner as to prevent any accumulation of lime or extraneous matter upon the valve which might destroy efficient operation thereof.

Other objects will appear in the following specification taken in connection with the annexed drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view, partially in detail, showmg details of the valve mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the valve mechanism, portions thereof being shown in detail;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 1.

Before referring to the drawing specifically, it might be stated that applicant herein has for some considerable time been engaged in the development and manufacture of apparatus which requires the control of city water to a hot water heater and float chamber, wherein there is generated steam. In the operation of his device, although in the main it was satisfactory, nevertheless it required service from time to time, inasmuch as the valve controlling the flow of water was disposed within and controlled by a ball float in one of the chambers in which steam was generated. He discovered that the valve which was disposed in this chamber gradually gathered an accumulation of lime and extraneous matter,

due mainly to the fact that the generation of steam created the deposit of lime, which would not occur, of course, under normal temperatures. In order to overcome this serious objection to an otherwise eminently satisfactory device, he experimented with valve mechanism until finally the present structure was developed, which obviates not only the disadvantages heretofore men- 5 tioned but also resulted in an automatic control of the water to the water heater and steam generating portions, without fluctuation of the water supply and without any chattering of the valve member.

In view of the fact that applicants novel structure is in the valve mechanism; itself, no showing has been made of a'hot water steam tank, conventional ball float and connecting pipes.

Within a float tank, not shown, is disposed a conventional float member which is secured to 5 a lever 16, in turn connected at its other end by means of a set screw 17 to a rod 18 which finds its bearing supportin a supporting bracket 19, either formed as a part of the float tank or as an auxiliary casting. This support 19 has 0 secured thereto a valve housing member 20.

This connection may be either by means of threads or as a matter of fact may be an integral casting with the member 19.

A packing gland is shown at 21, preventing any possible passage of water from the valve chamber to the float tank. The rod 18 is projected within the valve housing 20, the same having a movement transmitting lug 22 fixedly secured to the end thereof, themovement of same obviously being controlled by the up and down movement of the ball float within the float tank.

A valve stem is shown at 23, slidably mounted in the reduced portion 24 of the valve housing. This reduced portion 24 also is fashioned at its outer end in a manner to form a seat 25 for the valve 26, which in turn is secured to the valve stem by means of the screw 27.

It is apparent that the movement transmission lever 22 is capable of abutting the inner end 28 of the valve stem and thus at certain times of opening the valve 26 to permit passage of water through the valve chamber 20.

A water, exit member is shown at 29, obvious- -ly being threaded to receive a pipe connecting 9 same to the hot water supply tank and float chamber.

Means permitting the flow of water to the valve 26 for controlling the movement of said valve to some extent is provided in the following mechanism. A tubular housing is screw threaded as at 31 to the end of the valve housing. This housing is fashioned interiorly as at 32 in a manner to receive a coil spring 33 being capable of applying a degree of pressure against 5 the valve 26.

Now, with respect to the operation of my valve mechanism, as has been explained, the lever 16 is used in connection with-the conventional ball float in a water tank, the water level in which 1 is adapted to be automatically maintained by the above described valve mechanism. Movement of the lever 16, influenced by the ball float in an upward or downward direction, obviously transmits movement through the various described portions, to the lug 22. which in turn controls the movement of the water valve 26.

It is apparent that with the above mechanism,

the manner of disposing the various portions pre vents any flow of water into the float chamber. Movement of the transmitting lug in a direction to open the valve 26 permits water from the ordinary city supply to flow past the valve and hence about the transmitting lug 22 andfinally through the water exit pipe 29, which is connected to the hot water supply tank and float chamber, not.

shown.

As before indicated, applicants idea is to separate that portion of the valve mechanism controlling the ordinary water supply from any contact with those portionsin which steam is generated and'it is apparent that by disposing the water valve in an exterior manner, as herein shown and claimed, such result will be attained.

for attaching said rod to said lever so that the rod is rotated in response to movement of the lever, an element positioned in one of the chambers formed in said housing and slidable therein, a valve, and means secured on one end of said rod and located within said. last named chamber for moving said element to control the valve in accordance with the position of the float.

2 Valve mechanism for automatically controlling the flow of water to a hot water heater or similar device comprising a housing enclosing two chambers of relatively large size connected by a tubular conduit, a float controlled lever disposed within said housing in one of said larger chambers, a rotatable rod positioned within said housing in said tubular conduit, means ,for attaching said rod to said lever so that the rod is rotated in response to the movement of the lever, a movement transmitting lug secured to said rod so that rotation of the rod causes actuation of said lug, a horizontally disposed plunger positioned in the second of said chambersformedin said housing and adapted for movement in response to movement of said lug,

HIRAM T. ABRAHAM.

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